Man you guys are taking this video too literal. I would turn my ac OFF and the compressor kept coming on and off even with the heater on! Watched this video, turned the vent to feet, and bam quit that very instant! Thanks for the video!

Well, I came here because my a/c clutch was coming on intermittently when I put the a/c on...and warm air would come out the vents. I learned watching this video that it is normal for the a/c compresser to cycle on and off in defrost mode, but it did not directly address why that was happening to my truck in a/c mode. On another youtube video I learned how you can jump the low pressure switch connector with a paperclip to see if the low pressure switch is bad. When I did that the a/c compressor clutch engaged and stayed in, and cool air started coming through the vents. Conclusion: the a/c compressor will function normally in defrost mode and function similarly (cycle the clutch on and off) in a/c mode with a bad low pressure sensor. So, I did benefit from this video but if I did not try jumping around the low pressure switch with a paperclip I would still be stuck in the problem. I hope this helps someone else that might have stumbled in here with the same problem I had. Here is the link to the paperclip trick: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/i7F9gpdql5-Yeas.html

Just want to take a moment and say THANK YOU SO MUCH! I noticed this behavior on my 2004 Camry today and I thought I had a bigger problem with my AC/Heater system so I been searching on KZfaq and Google to find answers as to why the compressor was kicking on and off and here you answered it! thanks again man!

Big thank you! This isn’t in my Jeep Liberty owner’s manual. One video said not enough coolant, another said too much coolant. Or maybe the low pressure sensor is bad, or the compressor clutch. How about turn the vent setting off defrost! Sir you’re a genius!

I am new to cars so I was wondering about this. With all the criticism you have received on this video it actually helped me out I thought something is wrong when in fact it is normal. So thank you.

Thank you very much!! This fixed the issue on my 2003 Chevy Silverado 1500HD. Much appreciation man! Nothing but cold air here in the desert south!

A/C is designed to cut in on defrost setting. It reduces the humidity in the air being blown on the windshield, and so cuts down on frost formation. It is not a problem, it is a feature.

The AC compressor runs in defrost mode because the AC system is used to dry the air to help defrost the windshield quickly. So that’s why the compressor runs in that setting. You will also notice that the defrost setting turns on the cooling fan in the same way that the AC turns on the cooling fan. Again because defrost is using the AC system and that system is designed to have the cooling fan run at high speed whenever the AC is turned on.

1997 Astro Van thats Me !! it clicks ,cycles on and off!! Thanks for Sharing!!!!

This is misleading and can be reduced to 10 seconds to get message through...

Is it a YT bug or just my iphone, but the audio repeated at 2:24 to when you were outside talking about cold line and 60 degrees.. weird

HI, video helped me. I have a new to me auto and have been paranoid about mechanical issues that will surface. Now I know where and why likely on my car

This worked for my 93 Grand Marquis. Thanks! for making this video

Thanks a lot. I had the same concern and now I realized the reason. I have a Camry and a Corolla and only one of them has this option! That made me worried may be something was wrong with the car!

amazing. I have two Lexus RX300s, a 2000 and a 2001. The 2000 doesn’t cycle unless the AC button is pushed. The 2001 kept cycling, so I was afraid it was overcharged. This video saved me a trip to the shop! Apparently the 2001 is configured differently than the 2000, and cycles the compressor if the windshield vents on EVEN with the AC turned off. Thanks!!

I didn't realize that so many men didn't know that the defrost cycle engages the AC too (no matter the temp setting), pulls the moisture from inside of vehicle..it's also stated in the owner's manual

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!! I TRIED IT AND IT WORKED ON MY OLD TAURUS!!! I didn't want to spend 100's of dollars to fix properly and this did the trick!AWESOME!!!

what happens when you go from floor setting to back to max ac setting? Will the compressor then stay on?

This was happening on my 01 Crown Vic, and I was curious why. Now I know, thanks

I am not gonna go through the endless number of comments to see if it has been said. So I am gonna say it again if it hasnt already. If you put your switch on defrost(windshield), and have the thermostat on heat only, it doesnt do what you think it will do, which is blow heat only. Defrost uses a blend of ac and heat to "defrost" your window without cracking it due to temperature shock. There is no way around it. Even in older vehicles where there is an ac switch, if you put it in defrost mode, the ac will engage regardless of the switch being on or off. And yes, even if the switch is on floor and defrost, the ac will still engage. If its on any other setting(vents only, including the feet mode, in most vehicles), the ac will stay off.

A/C clutch engages by design to keep all the compressor parts and a/c system lubricated and working. If your clutch goes 3-4 months without moving at all you probably won’t have air conditioning the following summer.

Great video for a short term solution. I would have your ac checked by a professional to ensure freon levels are within proper operating range. Great info here

This is 2021 thank u so much for this video. It work perfectly

I HAVE A 1994 F 250 5.8 2 W DR XLT AND I BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS INFORMATION FOR DAYS I HAD SO MUCH STRESS LOOKING HOW TO STOP THAT ANNOYING CLICK I LIVE IN A COLD PLACE NEAR SEATTLE WASHINGTON THEN THE CAR MECHANIC ASKED MUCH FOR HAVING A DIAGNOSE , AND PLEASE I HOPE YOU CAN CHANGE THE TITLE OF YOUR VIDEO TO THE COMPRESSOR KIKING IN WHILE IT IS ON HEATER POSITION ,AM SURE YOU WILL HELP MORE MORE PEOPLE I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR KINDNESS IN SHARING THIS SO MUCH VALUABLE INFORMATION YOU SAVE ME AT LIST ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS THANKS SO MUCH AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL THERE

Real 100% ,That’s happened to me on Toyota Sienna 2005 xle ,I did everything lake you said and work ,thanks buddy ,I really Appreciate it

Thank you!!! I can't believe that worked on my 2006 taurus.. My question is what caused it? I bought that car new and have never experienced this before. My AC cluth just started cycling on and off every second last week, that got it to stop. Wish I knew the root cause.

Thank you bro.

Was hoping to find an answer for a compressor kicking off and on when I want it to stay on. This seems like a solution looking for a problem

Wow really? I have been having the exact same problem with my 02 mustang. After a few weeks of being annoyed by it I finally decided to check on YT to see if anyone had the fix for it. Now I am looking forward to giving this a try. I would have never thought to try that. Earlier today I disconnected my battery to see if it was something screwy in the electrical system that would resolve itself. No luck with that. This video currently has 774K views. That tells you that this is not at all an uncommon problem. Thanks for making the video!

My Peterbuilt 379 is doing this where it repeatedly cuts on and off and I kept thinking it was low in coolant. BUT! My selector for vents is messed up and it’s stuck on defrost, now I know why. Preciate it!!! Screw the haters

All settings run the A/C except vent and floor. Bi-level was originally intended for use with heat when the sun is cooking your upper body but your feet are still cold, so it still runs the A/C on most domestic vehicles without an A/C button. This is likely a CCOT (cycling clutch orifice tube) system, which controls the suction pressure by engaging and disengaging the clutch. This keeps the evaporator from freezing up on a cool day, and it will likely do this unless the A/C is on normal (not max), high fan, on a hot day. If it does it even in these conditions, the system is probably low on charge.

Totally worked! I had the same issue. Thank you!

Ignore any of the negative comments. I was wondering about this with my old (2000) Ford Explorer because I figured it would hurt my already less than stellar mpg. I got three different answers before watching this video, all of them dead wrong. Thanks for the information/explaination.

Great help we’ll explained

Thanks.

The AC compressor is supposed to run in the defrost mode to dry the humidity from the air before it gets blown onto the cold windshield where it would otherwise condense and cause fogging.

Thanks Man, that saved me some fuel.

Thanks for the Video! I did wonder why my AC compressor was coming on and off all the time.. Even if that is supposed to happen, when the dial is on "windshield" I still did not like it and had no idea that this was the case! So now, it's turned off and I am grateful for your help. Keep up the good work!

My 2005 Tahoe AC has worked flawlessly in the three years I have had it. I had a reputable oil service change done a week ago and they said the AC system needs work. I said my AC is ice cold. I used the AC three times since then and had cold AC. Now, the compressor clicks on and off. Do you think they did something to make it fail, to make work?

Did I stroke out or did this video repeat the same thing but 2 different videos?

Thank you so muchhhhhhh sir you are awesome you have a new subscriber

I'll try turning setting to feet 🐾 and that should fix problem... Thanks for letting me know it's not a big problem, but rather a normal feature for my vehicle

With all due respect, isn't it obvious that if the constant cycling on/off of the A/C compressor is annoying, you can stop it immediately by setting the dial to the OFF position?

thanks for that Jeeps been doin it.

Gonna try this on my 2012 Charger because it's driving me crazy right now. Too hot in Mississippi for my AC to not work properly.

Thank you so much I was looking around looking around looking around come find it and then I found it on your site again thank you driving me nuts

SO what you're saying is...don't use it in the most common setting.......and it won't do it. Brilliant....

Thanks

Fixed it by adding more freon 134a refrigerant. Due to low pressure not keeping in engaged.

Try checking near throttle cable there is a second cable linkage that runs the toward the passenger side that if loose can cause this problem was the exact issue on my 2002 Kia optima because it regulates the blower and freon input

Almost 1000 dislikes, I can see why. Useless

Yes, all autos use A/C to dry out the air for defrosting your windows. Not on issue on modern cars as gas mileage is barely affected.

Omg you are right. Mine stays off if i only do head or floor. Any other setting clicks it on and off. Silly design

I am having this same issues with Toyota camry 2007 model clutching off and on when i turn on the ac with the fan speed at highest the reading i am getting on my guage on the high side is 150 psi and 30 psi on the low pressure side.

Nice sir

I unplug my compressor ( wire plug on top) for the winter and plug it back in the summer. Never noticed any difference in defrosting windshield. Saves also on wear and tear of the compressor and better gas milage.

dud you just saved me SO MUCH bullshit with my ranger. youre the man

Had the same crap going on with my 2013 fusion. Think this mightve fixed it. Just tried it quick before work. Think I should be good

I just had this same problem and just fixed it the real way, if you put the gauge with a can of freon on it, but dont crack open the can with the opener, if the pressure is in the red too high, and then ac compressor turns on and it goes down but still in the red, the ac compressor will turn right back off, so i took a pen apart and used the ink tube to release some pressure, with the ac on full blast still and car running, as soon as i let a little out, the compressor stayed on longer, so i let more out and recheck with gauge, once it got down to the yellow part it started staying on the whole time and cooling, so check the pressure, if its too high, itll turn on and back off within a few seconds, hope this helps

You might wanna fix that before summer 😉😏

Should the ac compressor run constanly or should it turn on and off?

I know this is an older video. I have a 2010 Hyundai Elantra and it just stopped blowing air and then it would just come back on an hour later or a day later. So I tried it and it came back on but I don't know how long to run it for or if it's going to fix it completely or will it happen again

Nice

A compressor that cycles on and off rapidly when it's hot outside means that it's overcharged on refrigerant, but in this case defrost always turns the compressor on to pull out moisture to keep your windows from fogging up. Put the heat on feet or face vents and the compressor shouldn't run. Also to control moisture and keep windows from fogging up not only does the AC compressor have to be on, but also have to have the system on outside air and not recirculate.

Seems to me you just put it to blow the vent without the ac running which solved the problem, I guess. Essentially, don’t turn the ac on and it won’t cut on and off repeatedly.

My problem is this same thing but it drains my battery ? Can you explain why this would happend

Thanks man

Ah...Ok...I was wondering why this was happening in my 09 Ford ranger...Thanks for the heads up

That's not fixing it

Anyone who thoroughly reads their owner's manual would know under what settings of hvac controls the air conditioning would come on. The reason the compressor comes on in defog and deice modes is to dry the air which comes into the cabin of the vehicle. Dry air helps defrost the windows much more quickly than damp outside air. Basically this video tells people something they don't need to know, should not mess with. Just use your hvac controls the way they are meant to be used.

Thank you, mine is always off and does that, will try feet next

Very helpful video. Same issue on my truck when the switch is in the positions he indicated. I will probably just pull the relay or add a switch to stop this annoying problem Ford's inflicted on us,. Many thanks for the video.

My ac/heat works great!but one problem.it comes on then go off.then days later it come back on.then back off.🤔🤔🤔🤔 Does anyone know what is the problem?

I must have a different issue my a/c doesn’t cycle if I turn my fan off even the a/c pump stays on solid it will start making ice all over the lines. I unplug the a/c pump power wire and that’s the only time the clutch ever kicks off on my 2010 ranger.

I have a Chevy Astro 2004 how do you keep in on ? And not on and off

The video is convoluted, ½ way in the audio kicked back toward the beginning then the video and audio were way off and ended mid audio.

[Fixed Solution] (Short version) Your AC is extremely low on refrigerant and needs to be recharge. (Long Version) I had the same issue on a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport. I bought a AC/Pro Recharge container from my local auto zone. I plugged it and and started recharging my AC after about 10 of charging the compressor gratuity stopped cutting on and off. At first the gauge kept moving back and fourth but that is only because you are plugging straight into a cylinder and it is trying to calibrate the air inside. Give it time to recharge and in about 10-15 minutes after the charge you should be golden. If not then go see someone who knows how to fix a car compressor.

I have a 99 ford Ranger we charged AC . When truck gets hot and it's real hot out the ac goes off and on. I read comments some say its overcharged and some say its undercharged. The gauge said it was within range. Any suggestions

WILL IT DO THAT WITH YOUR TRUCK TURNED OFF

cool

I was told it clicks on and off in order to keep the a/c system lubricated.

so its normal for a truck to do that?? mine does that too but when i take off it makes like a clutching noise then it goes away??? any one else trucks do that

Hi my friend here my car is clicking only if the AC is on and I press accelerate and leave can you give me a solution to solve this problem

Hold up, the 250 has the 5.4 in it??

Not trying to be critical, but I have a similar issue with a truck and was curious if you're cycles on and off like that with the regular a/c on? As in the body vents with the a/c on, or if the compressor comes on and stays on?

My Vehicles doing the same thing

I'm experiencing that same problem on a my crown victoria

My Chevy Blazer does it when my settings are off. I always turn them off when parking.

A video to fix something that isn't even a problem

Good f'ing grief. So you fixed your A/C compressor problem by turning off the A/C.

My 2015 chevy my compresor continue engage but not gold.

nothing is wrong with it. Its especially gong to do it when it's that cool out because the ambient air temp coming into your condenser isnt hot enough to make the compressor run constant

Badass dude! Thanks, my AC unit has been clicking o. And off for years, floor fixed it! Thanks

Worked like a charm!

Hey I don't knock anybody to try to help out but that's Factory preset basically it's the stir up the freon so the compressor gets lubricated even in the winter so it's ready for the summer thanks anyway

Most Ford vehicles will not kick the AC clutch on during floor operation. The reason why it goes on for all the other selections is to keep your compressor and the clutch from freezing up during winter months and not as you said. I don't know where you got that from guy. Ford has been doing this for decades and several other manufacturers

Honestly some of you guys dumb I thought I had a serious problem but this video helped a lot because it turned out there was no issue it was exactly as this man said. Very pleased

The way to solve that problem is check if you are overcharged or do not have enough fluid in the system and then fix it, so it will work properly

I'll try this on my Toyota Passo 2008

I feel so dumb. I tried testing my A/C at 56 degrees. Internal temp was set to 65... still doesn't explain chirping noice when it's on. It could be failing or low in freon or both...